IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme in Infectious Disease Modelling 2026: Eligibility, Requirements, Benefits and How to Apply.

The IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme in Infectious Disease Modelling 2026 is an opportunity for qualified early- and mid-career scientists in sub-Saharan Africa to strengthen their expertise in infectious-disease modelling, conduct applied research and develop evidence that can inform public-health policies and interventions. The programme is designed for researchers who already have foundational training and practical experience in modelling and are ready to advance their work through structured mentorship, research development and scientific communication.

Organised under the IDM-Africa Strategic Training Hub, the fellowship aims to address the shortage of locally based infectious-disease modellers in sub-Saharan Africa. These specialists play an important role in understanding disease outbreaks, assessing public-health risks, studying antimicrobial resistance and supporting evidence-based decision-making. By investing in African research talent, the programme seeks to strengthen regional scientific leadership and improve the ability of institutions to respond to current and emerging infectious-disease challenges.

The 2026 recruitment round offers three fellowship positions, hosted through partner institutions in Uganda and Mali. Successful candidates will participate in a 12-month programme combining an intensive in-person placement with extended online mentorship. Throughout the fellowship, participants will develop their own modelling projects, work with experienced researchers and produce scientific and policy-oriented outputs intended to support public-health practice.

Applications must be submitted through the official Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI) recruitment portal. The closing date is 30 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m., according to the published opportunity announcement.

1. About the IDM-Africa Strategic Training Hub

Sub-Saharan Africa faces a continuing need for scientific expertise that can help explain, predict and respond to infectious diseases. Public-health authorities and research institutions require reliable evidence to understand how diseases spread, identify populations at risk, evaluate interventions and prepare for potential outbreaks.

Infectious-disease modelling helps researchers address these challenges by using mathematical, statistical and computational methods to represent disease transmission and examine possible outcomes under different conditions. Depending on the research question, models can help estimate transmission patterns, explore the potential impact of public-health interventions, assess the spread of antimicrobial resistance and support planning for disease prevention and control.

However, the availability of trained local modellers remains an important capacity challenge across the region. Developing this expertise within African institutions can help ensure that research responds to local epidemiological conditions, uses relevant data and addresses the practical questions faced by African health systems.

The IDM-Africa Strategic Training Hub was established to contribute to this capacity-building effort. Its approach combines workshops for early- and mid-career researchers with one-year mentored fellowships for advanced modellers. The programme is intended to help participants move beyond foundational training and develop research projects that produce useful scientific evidence.

Through the fellowship, researchers are expected to strengthen their technical skills while learning to communicate findings to audiences beyond academia. This includes producing peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, policy briefs and practical recommendations that can inform public-health decisions.

The programme therefore brings together several important areas of professional development:

• Technical research capacity: Improving participants’ ability to formulate research questions, prepare datasets, build models, run simulations and interpret results.

• Scientific mentorship: Providing structured guidance from experienced infectious-disease modellers, researchers and policy specialists.

• Research communication: Helping fellows translate complex modelling findings into scientific publications and accessible policy-oriented outputs.

• Reproducible research: Strengthening practices that allow research processes, analytical methods and code to be documented and reviewed.

• African scientific leadership: Supporting locally relevant research and building the capacity of institutions across sub-Saharan Africa.

By combining these elements, IDM-Africa aims to develop a stronger community of researchers who can apply infectious-disease modelling to the region’s public-health priorities.

2. Overview of the IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme 2026

The IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme is intended for scientists who have already developed a foundation in infectious-disease modelling and want to undertake a more advanced, applied research project with professional mentorship.

Rather than serving as an introductory course for individuals with no modelling experience, the fellowship supports researchers who can identify a relevant public-health problem, work with data and develop a modelling project that can contribute to scientific understanding or policymaking.

The programme provides an opportunity to work with specialists from partner institutions and to refine a research project using the participant’s own data. Fellows will receive support throughout the research process, from developing the research question to analysing data, interpreting model results and communicating findings.

Key details of the 2026 fellowship are summarised below.

The programme is particularly relevant to researchers who want to develop a policy-relevant infectious-disease modelling project, strengthen their scientific publication record and build professional relationships with experts in epidemiology, modelling and public health.

3. Fellowship Host Institutions and Available Positions

For the 2026 recruitment round, IDM-Africa is offering three positions across two host arrangements. Applicants should consider the language requirement and their preferred host site when preparing their applications.

A. Two fellowship positions at IDI / ACE-Uganda

Two fellows will be hosted through the Infectious Diseases Institute and the African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences in Kampala, Uganda.

These positions are open to candidates who are fluent in English. Applicants may come from English-speaking or non-English-speaking countries within sub-Saharan Africa, provided they meet the programme’s other eligibility requirements.

The Uganda placement offers a setting in which fellows can work on infectious-disease modelling projects with support from researchers and mentors associated with the partner institutions.

Candidates interested in this placement should explain why ACE-Uganda is an appropriate host for their proposed project and how the research could contribute to relevant public-health priorities.

B. One fellowship position at ACE-Mali / USTTB

One position is available through the African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences in Bamako, Mali, in association with the University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB).

This position is open to candidates who are fluent in French, including eligible applicants from non-Francophone countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Applicants considering the Mali placement should demonstrate how their research objectives align with the host institution and explain why the placement would support the development of their proposed infectious-disease modelling project.

C. Additional institutional partnerships

The wider IDM-Africa programme involves several institutions that contribute to its training and research environment. These include:

• The Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University: The coordinating institution identified in the fellowship announcement.

• African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, Kampala, Uganda (ACE-Uganda): A training and host site associated with the Uganda placement.

• University of Sciences, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTTB): A partner institution associated with the Mali placement.

• African Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Data-Intensive Sciences, Bamako, Mali (ACE-B): The training and host site associated with the Mali placement.

• Amsterdam University Medical Center (UMC): A partner in the wider programme.

• Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD): An institution involved in the programme’s partnership network.

Applicants should distinguish between the broader institutional partnership and the actual host options available for this recruitment round. The announcement identifies ACE-Uganda and ACE-B in Mali as the fellowship placement options.

4. Duration and Structure of the Fellowship

The IDM-Africa Fellowship runs for 12 months and is divided into two stages: an intensive in-person placement lasting one month and an 11-month online mentorship period.

This structure allows fellows to begin developing their projects through close interaction with mentors before continuing the research process remotely.

Stage 1: One-month in-person placement

During the first month, fellows will undertake an in-person placement at their selected host institution, either ACE-Uganda or ACE-B in Mali.

The placement is designed to provide intensive, mentor-guided project development. Fellows will have an opportunity to refine their research questions, establish their modelling approach and plan the work required to complete the project.

The initial placement is particularly important because a successful modelling study requires more than choosing a disease and running a simulation. Researchers must define a meaningful question, identify appropriate data, select suitable methods and determine how the resulting evidence will address a real public-health problem.

During this period, fellows are expected to commit 100% of their full-time equivalent (FTE) to fellowship activities. Applicants should therefore consider whether they can obtain the necessary release from their regular institutional responsibilities.

Stage 2: Eleven months of online mentorship

Following the in-person placement, fellows will participate in 11 months of online mentorship and structured research activities.

The programme requires approximately four hours per day, equivalent to 50% FTE, during this period. Participants must be prepared to maintain regular contact with their mentors, report their progress and participate in peer-learning activities.

The online mentorship period includes:

• At least one mentor-mentee session every two weeks.

• Peer-learning activities with other fellows.

• Monthly progress reporting.

• Quarterly fellowship review meetings.

• Technical feedback on research code and data.

• Support for scientific writing and policy communication.

• Engagement with public-health stakeholders where relevant.

The programme is therefore a substantial professional commitment rather than an occasional training opportunity. Applicants should make arrangements with their home institutions to protect sufficient time for research and fellowship responsibilities.

What commitment is required from the home institution?

The application package must include a letter from the applicant’s home institution confirming support for participation. The institution must commit to providing at least 50% protected time during the 11-month online mentorship period.

The letter must also address institutional support for completing the fellowship’s expected outputs, including the manuscript, policy brief and visualisation or dashboard outputs.

This requirement is important because fellows must balance the programme with their existing professional duties. Institutional support can help ensure that they have adequate time and resources to finish their research.

5. Research Activities and Skills Development

The fellowship focuses on applied infectious-disease modelling, with an emphasis on developing research that can contribute to public-health decision-making.

Participants will be supported throughout several interconnected stages of the research process.

A. Developing a research question

Fellows will refine their research questions with guidance from mentors. The questions should address a relevant infectious-disease issue and provide a clear direction for the modelling work.

A strong research question should identify the public-health problem being investigated, explain why it matters and establish what the model is intended to estimate, compare or explain.

Applicants should therefore prepare a proposal that goes beyond a broad interest in infectious diseases. They should identify a specific problem that can be investigated using available data and appropriate modelling methods.

B. Preparing and analysing data

Reliable data are essential for developing and evaluating infectious-disease models. Fellows will work on preparing and analysing the data required for their projects.

This includes identifying the data that will be used to parameterise and validate the proposed model. Applicants must describe these data in their application, making it important to consider their availability, suitability and relevance to the research question.

The ability to manage datasets is also an explicit eligibility requirement. Candidates should be prepared to explain how they have worked with data in previous modelling-related projects.

C. Developing and testing infectious-disease models

Fellows will develop, test and interpret infectious-disease models under the guidance of experienced researchers.

This work requires candidates to combine their quantitative skills with an understanding of disease transmission and the public-health context of their chosen research topic.

The programme also expects fellows to document and validate their completed models and provide reproducible code. This makes it important to use appropriate programming practices and maintain clear records of the methods and analytical decisions involved.

D. Strengthening reproducible research

Reproducible research allows other researchers to understand how results were produced and, where appropriate, repeat the analytical process.

During the fellowship, participants will strengthen their reproducible research practices and receive code and data-review support.

Candidates with experience using R, Python, MATLAB or equivalent tools should explain how they have applied those skills to modelling, data management, simulations and interpretation.

E. Developing scientific writing and policy communication

Technical findings are most useful when they can be understood and applied by the people who need them.

The fellowship therefore includes scientific-writing and policy-communication development. Fellows will be expected to produce a peer-reviewed manuscript and a policy brief as lead authors.

These deliverables require different approaches to communication. A scientific manuscript should present the research question, methodology, results and interpretation in an appropriate scholarly format. A policy brief should explain the practical relevance of the findings and communicate the implications to policymakers.

Applicants should demonstrate an interest in both scientific research and the application of evidence to public-health challenges.

6. Expected Fellowship Deliverables

The IDM-Africa Fellowship has clearly defined outputs that participants must complete to meet the programme’s requirements.

By the end of the 12-month fellowship, each fellow is expected to deliver the following:

1. A documented and validated infectious-disease model

Fellows must complete a documented and validated model, including reproducible code written in R, Python or equivalent software.

The model should reflect the proposed research question and use appropriate data and methods. Documentation and validation are essential components of this deliverable.

2. A final project report

Each fellow must submit a final project report to the IDM-Africa coordinating centre at the Infectious Diseases Institute.

The report will document the research undertaken during the fellowship and provide a formal account of the completed project.

3. A peer-reviewed journal manuscript

Fellows are expected to submit a manuscript as lead author to a peer-reviewed open-access journal.

This requirement provides an opportunity to develop a scientific publication based on the modelling project. Applicants should be ready to undertake the work needed to prepare the manuscript and respond to relevant research and editorial requirements.

The announcement specifies submission of the manuscript; it does not state that journal acceptance or publication is guaranteed during the fellowship.

4. A policy brief

Each fellow must produce a policy brief as lead author.

The brief should communicate the relevance of the modelling results to policymakers. It is intended to help translate technical research into evidence that can inform decisions and public-health interventions.

5. Regular progress updates and quarterly reports

Fellows must submit bi-weekly progress updates and quarterly performance reports through the IDI iBRIDGE system or the Virtual Communities of Learning (VCL) platform.

These reporting requirements help document progress and provide a structure for accountability throughout the programme.

6. Participation in peer and review meetings

Participants are required to attend monthly peer-fellow meetings and present their progress during quarterly fellowship review meetings.

These activities provide opportunities to discuss research challenges, receive feedback and learn from the experiences of other researchers.

7. Research presentations and policy translation

Fellows must present their findings at a workshop or regional scientific conference and at the annual IDM-Africa policy translation workshop.

These presentations will allow participants to communicate their findings to relevant scientific and public-health audiences.

8. Completion of agreed mentorship and reporting requirements

Fellows must complete all agreed mentorship activities, reporting obligations and deliverables to receive a certificate of completion.

The fellowship therefore requires sustained participation throughout the 12-month period. Applicants should ensure that they can meet the programme’s academic, technical and reporting responsibilities before applying.

7. Academic Qualifications and Eligibility Requirements

The IDM-Africa Fellowship is aimed at applicants with relevant postgraduate education and practical experience in infectious-disease modelling.

Meeting the academic requirement alone is not sufficient. Applicants must also satisfy the programme’s institutional, geographical, technical and professional criteria.

APPLY HERE.

A. Academic qualifications

Applicants must hold a master’s degree in a quantitative discipline, such as:

• Mathematics.

• Physics.

• Data science.

• Statistics.

A master’s degree in a health-related field is also accepted when accompanied by short-term training in infectious-disease modelling.

Candidates who hold or are pursuing a PhD in the specified quantitative or health-related disciplines are also eligible to apply, subject to the programme’s other criteria.

The announcement does not present the fellowship as an opportunity for applicants without the required postgraduate background or modelling preparation.

B. Practical experience in infectious-disease modelling

Candidates must have practical experience in infectious-disease modelling, including having led a substantial component of a modelling-related project, particularly its mathematical-modelling component.

This requirement indicates that the programme is intended for researchers who have already engaged in relevant modelling work.

Applicants should be prepared to describe their previous projects, their individual responsibilities, the modelling methods they used and the contribution they made to the research.

Where applicable, evidence of relevant project reports, publications or other research outputs may help explain the candidate’s experience, although the published list of mandatory application documents does not separately require a portfolio of these materials.

C. Programming and modelling proficiency

Applicants must be proficient in at least one modelling platform or programming language, such as:

• R.

• Python.

• MATLAB.

They must also be able to manage datasets, formulate models, run simulations and interpret the results.

Candidates should clearly identify the tools they use and explain how their technical abilities relate to the proposed project.

D. Commitment to infectious-disease modelling

The fellowship requires a demonstrated commitment to building a career in infectious-disease modelling and applying the discipline to public-health challenges.

Applicants should explain their longer-term research goals and why modelling is an important part of their intended career.

A strong application should connect the proposed fellowship project to a clear professional direction rather than presenting the opportunity as general training.

E. Ability to work in interdisciplinary teams

Infectious-disease modelling frequently involves collaboration among people with different professional backgrounds.

Candidates must be willing and able to work in interdisciplinary teams that may include epidemiologists, public-health officers, modellers and policymakers.

Applicants should demonstrate their willingness to collaborate and communicate across disciplines, especially where the research requires translating technical findings into practical recommendations.

F. Availability for the full fellowship

Applicants must be available for the complete one-month in-person placement and the subsequent 11 months of online mentorship.

They must also commit to completing the agreed fellowship outputs.

Candidates should consider the full time requirement, including the intensive first month, the approximately four hours per day required during online mentorship, regular meetings and reporting deadlines.

G. Institutional affiliation and geographical eligibility

Applicants must be affiliated with an institution located in a sub-Saharan African country within the EDCTP Association.

They must be resident in, or willing to relocate to, an eligible sub-Saharan African country for the fellowship placement.

The announcement also explicitly excludes applicants affiliated with partner institutions, including institutions at IDI/Makerere University in Uganda or ACE-B/USTTB in Mali.

Candidates who are uncertain whether their institution or country meets the eligibility requirements should verify their status against the official programme information before submitting an application.

8. Application Documents Required

Applicants must prepare a complete application package and submit it as a single PDF document through the official IDI Recruitment Portal.

The application must include the following documents and statements.

CLICK HERE, for more information.

1. Current curriculum vitae

Provide an up-to-date CV outlining your academic qualifications, research experience, relevant modelling projects, technical skills and professional background.

Your CV should make it easy for the selection team to assess your experience in infectious-disease modelling and your ability to undertake the proposed research.

2. Certified academic certificates and transcripts

Include certified copies of your academic certificates and transcripts.

These documents should demonstrate that you meet the required postgraduate qualifications. Applicants with PhD qualifications or who are pursuing a PhD should ensure that their academic background is represented accurately.

3. National identification document or passport

Include a scanned copy of a national ID or passport, as specified in the announcement.

Ensure that the document is legible before incorporating it into the application PDF.

4. Two letters of recommendation

Applicants must provide two recommendation letters from current or previous supervisors or mentors.

Choose referees who can speak meaningfully about your research experience, quantitative skills, professional commitment and suitability for advanced mentorship.

Where possible, the letters should support the claims made in your CV and explain your potential to contribute to infectious-disease modelling research.

5. Career goals and motivation statement

Prepare a statement explaining your career goals and motivation for pursuing a career in infectious-disease modelling.

This statement should describe why you want to specialise in the field, the public-health challenges that interest you and how the fellowship fits into your long-term professional plans.

Avoid relying only on general statements about wanting to improve public health. Explain the particular research questions or modelling challenges you want to address.

6. Preferred host site and justification

State whether you prefer ACE-Uganda or ACE-B in Mali.

Include a brief explanation of why your selected host institution is appropriate for your proposed research project.

Your choice should be consistent with the position’s language requirement and your research objectives.

7. Description of the proposed modelling project

Provide a description of the project you intend to develop with your mentors.

The proposal should cover:

• The research question you intend to investigate.

• The proposed modelling methods.

• The anticipated public-health relevance of the project.

The research question should be specific enough to guide the proposed analysis. The methods should be appropriate to the question and the data available, while the public-health relevance should explain how the findings might contribute to understanding or addressing the problem.

8. Policy implications and plans for uptake

Applicants must include a statement describing the potential policy implications of the proposed work and how they intend to support uptake of the findings.

Explain which public-health decisions or interventions the results could inform and how the research might be communicated to relevant stakeholders.

This element is important because the fellowship explicitly emphasises translating modelling findings into practical recommendations.

9. Description of the data

Provide a brief description of the data you intend to use to parameterise and validate the model.

Explain what data are available, what role they will play in the modelling process and how they relate to the research question.

The announcement requires this description as part of the application package. Applicants should therefore consider data availability and suitability before finalising their proposals.

10. Letter of commitment from the home institution

The application must include a letter from the applicant’s home institution confirming its support for the fellowship.

The letter must confirm that the institution will provide at least 50% protected time during the 11-month online mentorship period and support completion of the manuscript, policy brief and visualisation/dashboard outputs.

Applicants should approach their institutions early enough to secure this letter before the application deadline.

9. How to Apply for the IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme 2026

Applications to both the Uganda and Mali host sites must be submitted through the official IDI Recruitment Portal.

Use the following steps to prepare and submit your application.

10. Deadline and Important Dates

The published vacancy announcement gives the following closing date:

• Application deadline: 30 October 2026.

• Closing time: 5:00 p.m.

• Job code: IDMA003.

• Number of positions: Three.

• Duration: 12 months.

Applicants should submit their applications before the closing time and avoid waiting until the final day to obtain recommendation letters or institutional approval.

Because the announcement specifies that all documents must be combined into a single PDF, it is advisable to prepare and review the complete package well in advance.

Candidates should also check the official recruitment portal for any subsequent changes to the deadline or submission instructions.

11. Tips for Preparing a Strong Application

Although meeting the eligibility criteria is essential, applicants should also ensure that their applications clearly demonstrate their readiness to complete an applied research project.

The following recommendations are based on the requirements and deliverables described in the fellowship announcement.

Present a clearly defined research problem

Your proposal should identify a specific infectious-disease challenge and explain why it deserves investigation.

Describe the question the model will address, the methods you propose to use and the potential contribution of the findings to public health.

Demonstrate previous modelling experience

The programme requires practical experience in infectious-disease modelling, including leadership of a substantial modelling-related component.

Explain your previous work in concrete terms. Describe your responsibilities, the methods you used and how your contribution relates to the project you now want to undertake.

Explain your technical capabilities

Identify the programming language or modelling platform you use and describe your experience managing datasets, developing models, running simulations and interpreting results.

The application should make it clear that you have the foundational skills needed to benefit from advanced mentorship.

Show that your data are suitable

Your application must describe the data that will be used to parameterise and validate your model.

Before submitting, consider whether the proposed data are available and appropriate for the research question. Explain how they will support the planned analysis.

Connect the research to policy

The fellowship requires a policy implications statement and a policy brief.

Explain who could use the findings, what decisions they might inform and how you intend to communicate the results to the relevant stakeholders.

Choose your host institution carefully

Your preferred placement should be appropriate for your research objectives and consistent with the position’s language requirements.

Provide a reasoned explanation for selecting ACE-Uganda or ACE-B in Mali rather than simply naming a preferred location.

Secure institutional support early

The home-institution commitment letter is a required component of the application.

Start discussions with your institution early to confirm that it can provide the required protected time and support your completion of the fellowship outputs.

Check the entire PDF before submitting

Ensure that the final document includes all required components, that the scanned documents are legible and that your project proposal, data description and institutional letter are consistent with one another.

A complete, clearly organised application will make it easier for the recruitment team to assess your qualifications and readiness for the programme.

12. Why the IDM-Africa Fellowship Matters for Public Health in Africa

The IDM-Africa Fellowship addresses a research capacity need that has implications for public-health preparedness, scientific independence and the use of evidence in policymaking.

Infectious diseases can create complex challenges for health systems, particularly when transmission patterns change, outbreaks emerge or antimicrobial resistance threatens the effectiveness of existing treatments. Understanding these challenges requires research that combines data, mathematical methods and knowledge of the local health context.

Developing African modelling expertise can help research institutions generate evidence that reflects regional priorities and available data. It can also strengthen collaboration between scientists and the people responsible for planning public-health interventions.

The fellowship’s focus on scientific publications, policy briefs and research presentations is significant because it encourages participants to communicate their findings beyond the modelling process itself.

The programme also supports professional development through mentorship and peer learning. By connecting fellows with experienced researchers and other participants, it provides a structured environment in which researchers can improve their methods, receive feedback and develop their research careers.

For eligible scientists, the opportunity offers a way to combine technical development with the production of a substantial research project. Its emphasis on validated models, reproducible code and policy communication also encourages participants to develop outputs that can be reviewed, understood and potentially used by others.

The fellowship does not guarantee employment, research funding beyond what is explicitly stated in the official announcement, or acceptance of a manuscript by a journal. Its stated value lies in structured mentorship, applied research development and the completion of defined scientific and policy-oriented outputs.

Conclusion

The IDM-Africa Fellowship Programme in Infectious Disease Modelling 2026 offers a structured, 12-month research and mentorship opportunity for qualified early- and mid-career scientists in sub-Saharan Africa. Through its combination of an in-person placement, online mentorship, technical review and scientific communication, the programme aims to strengthen African expertise in infectious-disease modelling and support research that can contribute to public-health decision-making.

The three available positions comprise two English-language placements at IDI/ACE-Uganda and one French-language placement at ACE-Mali/USTTB. Applicants must meet the postgraduate qualification requirements, demonstrate practical modelling experience, possess relevant programming skills and have the institutional support needed to complete the fellowship.

Candidates should pay particular attention to the proposed research project, the data required to develop and validate the model, the potential policy implications of their findings and the required institutional commitment letter. They must also be prepared to complete the programme’s research, reporting and presentation requirements.

The application deadline is 30 October 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Eligible researchers interested in advancing their infectious-disease modelling careers should review the official announcement, confirm their eligibility and submit the complete application package through the IDI Opportunities Portal before the deadline.

For more OFY Fellowship opportunities, VISIT HERE.